Gaming Rules! Charity Games Day 2019 Accessibility Review
Gaming Rules! Charity Games Day 2019 Accessibility Review
What is Charity Games Day?
Charity Games Day is a single day event organised by Gaming Rules!, raising money for the Chrysalis Youth Empowerment Network. The focus is on open gaming, with a retailer and refreshments to buy. In 2019 they raised over £400 for the charity. This was their first event, and Paul from Gaming Rules! Has said he hopes to run it again next year.
Atmosphere
Gaming Gules! Charity Games Day is held in a local community centre. The rooms are not too large and don’t echo, meaning the noise wasn’t overbearing. The volunteers were very friendly and asked if they could help, greeting you with a smile and all the information you need to enjoy the day. There was a friendly atmosphere, and nothing asked for seemed like too much bother for anyone.
Assistants and Service Animals
This is a small event, run to make the most money for charity. There were no discounted tickets advertised for assistants, but the event was very cheap to attend. Service animals were allowed in the venue, and there was plenty of room for them. There is easy access to outdoor areas for toileting.
Physical Access
Inside the venue the main gaming area is easy to navigate in a wheelchair. Paul from Gaming Rules! Checked when I arrived that there was enough space for me to get around the venue, and offered to rearrange things if there wasn’t, but that was not necessary. The tables were well laid out, the refreshment area was easy to get to, and the disabled toilet was roomy, with the correct length of red chord.
There were additional rooms for gaming upstairs, which was accessible via a lift. I fit in the lift with my wheelchair, but those with larger electric wheelchairs would struggle, and mobility scooters wouldn’t fit. That said, there was plenty enough room for gaming on the ground floor, and I found no need to go upstairs on the day (though I did go up there to have a nose for this review!).
Below are photos of the disabled toilet and the inside of the lift. Apologies for the bad photography skills and the grimace... Able Table Gaming - Taking awkward photos of venues since 2019.
Deaf Access
There are no BSL interpreters available, but with no announcements or information given over any speaker system, or any talks taking place during the event, this wasn’t much of an issue. For hearing loss, the rooms didn’t echo, and background chatter sounded minimal.
There was a surprise presentation, where Paul Grogan used a web link to talk to people in Uganda who work with, and are helped by, the charity the event was supporting. This was a live link, so no subtitles were offered.
Accommodation
Gaming Rules! Charity Games Day is not held in a venue that has accommodation, but there are options with accessible rooms a short drive or taxi ride away.
Food and Drink
Soft drinks, alcohol, tea and coffee, and snacks are all available inside the venue. There are no designated low-level counters, but in a wheelchair it was easy to order what you wanted. Cullompton High Street is predominantly wheelchair accessible and had several food options, including gluten free and vegan. But you might want to check online for what is open before you leave the venue for some lunch.
Summary
Gaming Rules! Charity Day was a wonderful small-scale gaming event, it felt like gaming in a large version of your living room with some well-picked, friendly guests! If you are looking for a shopping spree, lectures and entertainment shows, this isn’t it. But if you are looking to spend your day gaming in a friendly atmosphere with a group of people who are as passionate about gaming as you are, I recommend you get yourself to the next Gaming Rules! event in Cullompton, the two-day TING convention, happening the first weekend of July!
I give the overall accessibility of Charity Games Day 2019 4 Meeples out of 5!
